Tony Benford has joined the UTEP basketball staff as an assistant coach, head coach Doc Sadler announced on Friday. Benford succeeds James Holland,
who accepted an assistant position at the University of Alabama earlier this month.
“We’re very excited to be able to hire someone with Tony’s experience,” Sadler said. “I’ve known Tony since his playing days at Texas Tech. I always thought
he was a great player, and he has become one of the top coaches and recruiters in college basketball. He will be a great addition to our staff, helping in all
areas of the program.”
“I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Doc Sadler, someone I’ve known and respected for a long time,” Benford said. “I think he’s one of the
best coaches in the country, and he has proven that over the past two years with the success of the program. He does an excellent job offensively and
defensively. It’s a great time to be a Miner. This is a place with great tradition and great fan support. I have known coach [Don] Haskins for a long time and
was able to visit with him on my first day here. It’s great to be a part of a program with such rich history.”
Benford, 42, comes to UTEP from Arizona State where he spent eight seasons, including the last two as associate head coach. He helped the Sun Devils
reach postseason play four times, including advancing to the second round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament.
During his stint at Arizona State, Benford recruited and coached two Pac-10 Players of the Year in Eddie House (2000) and Ike Diogu (2005). He also recruited
Jeff Pendergraph, who was tabbed to the 2006 Pac-10 All-Freshman Team.
Benford was also an assistant at New Mexico for six seasons (1992-98), five of which resulted in NCAA Tournament bids. The Lobos’ record was 139-51
(.732) during that six-year span, including two Western Athletic Conference Tournament championships (1993 and 1996) and one regular season crown (1994).
Benford began his coaching career at the junior high school level, spending four years as the head coach at the All Saints School in Lubbock.
A 1992 graduate of Texas Tech with a degree in physical education, Benford was a part of two Southwest Conference Tournament title teams (1985 and 1986),
and the 1985 SWC regular season champion. He earned all-league honors as a senior, as well as Most Valuable Player of the SWC Tournament.
Benford was chosen by the Boston Celtics in the fourth round of the 1986 NBA Draft. He played professionally in Holland during the 1986-87 season.
A native of Hobbs, N.M., Benford attended Hobbs High School. He was chosen the New Mexico Player of the Year and a Converse High School All-American,
averaging 27.5 points per game as a prep senior. He was named MVP of the 1981 state tournament, scoring 29 points in the championship game to propel
Hobbs to the title.
Benford and his wife, Deborah, have two daughters, Audriana (17) and Milena (9), and one son, Tony Jr. (14). Benford also has a son, Jeremy (24), who
played basketball at New Mexico Highlands.
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